Zimbabwe suspend all sporting activities due to COVID-19; Bangladesh tour under threat

Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are scheduled to resume international cricket with a  a lone Test match, three One Day Internationals, and as many T20 Internationals. However, there is a threat looming over the all-format tour as Zimbabwe’s Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has decided to put an end to all the sports activities happening in the country.

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The decision came after there was an upsurge in the number of positive coronavirus cases in Zimbabwe. “The Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) hereby notifies members of the public that pursuant to the statement by the Honourable Vice President of Zimbabwe C.G.D.N Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care, setting out additional measures to curb a renewed surge in Covid-19 infection rates, ALL sporting activities and events are hereby suspended with effect from Monday, 14th June 2021 until further notice.

“All national sports associations, clubs, gyms, and related stakeholders should abide by this suspension without exception,” stated Zimbabwe’s Sports and Recreation Commission in a statement.

Though SRC has suspended all sporting activities in the country, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is confident about the tour. BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhary revealed that he was involved in an interaction with the Zimbabwe Cricket Board and the two spoke at lengths regarding the future of the series.

The BCB CEO added that Zimbabwe Cricket Board is in talks with the government and they are optimistic regarding receiving permission from the authorities to host Bangladesh.

“Their government has banned all sports due to corona outbreak. The Zimbabwe Cricket Board has informed us that they are in talks with the government to continue cricket. I spoke to their CEO this morning. He said they were in talks with the government to roll out the series and were optimistic. They are confident with the series,” stated Nizamuddin Chowdhary.